Protective apparel for martial arts training

ABSTRACT

Protective apparel for use in martial arts or fitness training exercises involving contact between two participants, such as pad work or spar training, comprises a strike surface ( 11 ) carried on an inflatable bladder ( 12 ), and securing means ( 21 - 23 ) to enable the apparel ( 10, 40 ) to be worn by a user ( 30 ) during spar training. During use, the inflatable bladder ( 12 ) is inflated to a sufficient pressure to withstand strikes from a sparring partner. The protective apparel may take the form of a torso protector ( 10 ) or thigh protector ( 40 ), or other variants. These may be worn by the user ( 30 ) either alone or in combination to increase the area of the strike surface ( 11 ), and thus also increase the area of the user&#39;s body ( 30 ) which is protected.

This invention relates to protective apparel for use in martial arts orfitness training. In particular, it relates to protective appareladapted to be worn by a user during martial arts training exercisesinvolving contact between two participants, such as pad work or spartraining. The term “spar training” is used broadly herein to refer toany martial arts training exercise involving contact between twoparticipants, and thus includes pad work within its scope.

Spar training, often referred to simply as sparring, is an essentialpart of martial arts training utilised in practically all forms ofmartial art. It allows a trainee to practice and develop their skillsagainst an actual opponent, though in a strictly regulated environment,rather than against a static, artificial opponent such as a dummy orpunch-bag. In addition to its use in martial arts, spar training hasalso gained popularity in general fitness training.

Clearly, the protection of participants against injury is of greatimportance in any spar training encounter. A wide range of protectiveapparel has been developed, which varies in construction according tothe part of the body to be protected, and the form of martial art forwhich it is intended. The aim of such protective apparel is to attenuatethe impact of strikes (punches, kicks etc.) received from one's spartraining partner, and this is generally achieved by the use of some formof compressible foam.

Compressible foam protective apparel does however suffer from a numberof drawbacks. In particular, the presence of a solid medium—whatever itsshock-absorbing properties—in contact with the user's body, means thatsome force from the impact will still be transferred to the user. Therisk of injury can thus only be reduced rather than eliminated. For thesame reason, the risk of injury to the hand or foot of the spar trainingpartner performing a strike also remains. Additionally, the wear andtear caused by repeated striking will eventually take its toll on theapparel, resulting either in the compressible foam becoming fatigued(i.e. failing to expand back to its initial state following impact) orthe apparel becoming damaged. Either of these occurrences will exposethe user to the risk of potentially serious injury. This problem can becompounded by the fact that the apparel may show no visible signs ofhaving failed.

In addition to the risk of injury associated with such unsatisfactoryprotection, the quality and efficacy of spar training can also beadversely affected. That is to say, because of the known shortcomings ofcompressible foam protective apparel as outlined above, users tend tolimit the power which they impart to strikes, so as to avoid injuringthemselves or their partner.

The applicant's co-pending UK patent application no. 10 16826.8discloses inflatable martial arts training apparatus intended to beremovably mounted on a structural element within a building, for theperformance of martial arts or fitness training exercises involving auser punching and/or kicking the apparatus.

It has now been realised that sufficient pressure within such aninflatable bladder can withstand even the extreme forces associated withbeing punched or kicked by a martial arts master. Moreover, theshock-attenuating properties provided by an inflated bladder have beenfound to be superior to those associated with compressible foam. Thepresent invention thus seeks to provide inflatable personal protectionfor use in spar training which overcomes the shortcomings ofcompressible foam protective apparel, and provides increased protectionagainst injury, whilst enabling users to impart full power to theirstrikes during spar training. The present invention further seeks toprovide a lightweight, easily portable and collapsible alternative toconventional protective apparel.

The present invention has been developed for use in martial arts spartraining, and will therefore be described herein with particularemphasis on this intended use. Nevertheless, it is envisaged that thepresent invention may also be adapted for use in relation to othercontact sports, or indeed for use in any environment where protectiveapparel is desirable.

According to the present invention there is provided protective apparelfor use in martial arts or fitness training, comprising:

-   -   a strike surface carried on an inflatable bladder; and    -   securing means to enable the apparel to be worn by a user during        said training;    -   wherein, during use, the inflatable bladder is inflated to a        sufficient pressure to withstand strikes (punches and kicks)        from a training partner, without causing injury to said user.

The inflatable bladder may be inflated either prior to the user donningthe protective apparel, or once the apparel is in situ on the user'sbody. It is however essential that inflation of the bladder to therequired pressure be carried out prior to the commencement of spartraining. Inflation of the bladder may be carried out either orally,using conventional air pumps, or by the provision of canisters ofpressurised air or other gas.

The strike surface is preferably three-dimensional, and most preferablyhas a generally cylindrical profile. This is preferably achieved byforming the inflatable bladder such that it adopts a generallycylindrical profile on inflation.

The inflatable bladder preferably comprises one or more strengtheningribs, located internally thereof. The strengthening ribs serve to impartgreater resistance against damage and so prolong the useful life of theprotective apparel. Most preferably, said strengthening ribs divide theinflatable bladder into a plurality of chambers, thereby imparting asegmented structure to the apparel. This segmented structure alsoassists in providing the generally cylindrical profile.

The protective apparel may be formed with each said chamber beingindividually sealed, which would necessitate each individual chamberbeing provided with its own inflation valve. However, it is generallypreferred that each said chamber will in fact be in fluid communicationwith its adjacent chamber(s), such that air may flow from one chamber toanother, with the inflatable bladder being provided with a singleinflation valve. This enables the bladder to be inflated to a higherpressure than would otherwise be attainable, thus giving enhancedprotection. Moreover, allowing air to flow from one chamber to anotherhas been found to enhance the shock-attenuating properties of theinflated bladder, by means of a process known as pneumatic energydissipation (PED).

Two or more inflatable bladders, each having an inflation valveassociated therewith, maybe provided. Each inflatable bladder maycomprise a plurality of interconnected segmented chambers.

The protective apparel, and the inflatable bladder which forms anintegral component thereof, are preferably formed from thermoplasticpolyurethane (TPU) and/or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This may desirablytake the form of TPU or PVC coated fabric material. The seams and jointsof the apparel are preferably joined by ultrasonic welding, in order toprovide maximum strength without the need for additional components ormaterials to achieve the joining.

In order to protect the or each inflation valve, each said valve ispreferably located on a surface other than the strike surface. The oreach inflation valve is preferably a quick release valve to facilitatespeedy deflation of the device following a training session.

The securing means to enable the protective apparel to be worn by a userpreferably comprises one or more straps. Most preferably, said one ormore straps are provided with complementary quick release bucklefasteners.

In a first major embodiment of protective apparel according to thepresent invention, the apparel is adapted to be worn on a user's torso,and comprises: a generally cylindrical central portion adapted to wraparound said user's torso such that the strike surface extends over thefront thereof; an upper portion adapted to protect said user's chestregion; and a lower portion adapted to protect said user's groin region;each of said upper and lower portions extending from the generallycylindrical central portion.

The strike surface preferably extends over said generally cylindricalcentral portion and said upper and lower portions. The inflatablebladder preferably extends throughout said generally cylindrical centralportion and said upper and lower portions.

In said first major embodiment, the securing means preferably comprisesa pair of parallel straps adapted to be secured across a user's backregion. Alternatively, or additionally, the securing means may comprisea pair of parallel straps adapted to be secured over a user's shoulderregion.

In a second major embodiment of protective apparel according to thepresent invention, the protective apparel is adapted to be worn on auser's leg or arm, and is adapted to wrap around said user's leg or armsuch that the strike surface extends outwardly thereof.

In said second major embodiment, the securing means preferably comprisesone or more straps adapted to be secured over an inner face of said legor arm.

It is envisaged that said first and second major embodiments may beutilised together, so as to increase the area of the strike surface andthus provide protection to the user over a greater area of the body.Accordingly, the present invention also provides a protective apparelkit comprising an article of protective apparel for a user's torso ashereinbefore described, and one or more articles of protective apparelfor a user's leg(s) and/or arm(s), as hereinbefore described.

In order that the present invention may be more clearly understood, apreferred embodiment thereof will now be described in detail, thoughonly by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of protective apparel according toa first major embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a rear perspective view of the protective apparel of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of a user wearing the protectiveapparel of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of protective apparel according toa second major embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a rear perspective view of the protective apparel of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 shows a front perspective view of a user wearing the protectiveapparel of FIGS. 4 and 5; and

FIG. 7 shows a front perspective view of a user wearing both theprotective apparel of FIGS. 1 and 2, and the protective apparel of FIGS.4 and 5, in combination.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a first major embodiment ofprotective apparel for use in martial arts or fitness training accordingto the present invention, in the form of a torso protector 10. The torsoprotector 10 comprises a three dimensional strike surface 11, carried onan inflatable bladder 12. A plurality of strengthening ribs 13 areprovided internally within the bladder 12. In addition to providingenhanced strength to the torso protector 10, the strengthening ribs 13also divide the bladder 12 into a plurality of chambers 14. As can beseen in FIG. 1, this imparts a segmented structure to the torsoprotector 10, which assists in the formation of the protector 10 with agenerally cylindrical profile, thus enabling the protector 10 to wraparound the torso of a user. The individual chambers 14 of the inflatablebladder 12 may either be individually sealed, or more preferably may bein fluid communication with one another, such that air may pass from onechamber to another. This improves the shock-attenuating properties ofthe inflatable bladder 12 by employing pneumatic energy dissipation(PED).

The torso protector 10 is formed with a generally cylindrical centralportion 15, intended to wrap around and protect the torso of a user. Atthe front 16 of the protector 10, are formed upper and lower portions17, 18 extending from the central portion 15. The upper portion 17 isintended to cover and protect a user's chest region, whilst the lowerportion 18 is intended to cover and protect a user's groin region. Thestrike surface 11 extends over the central portion 15, the upper portion17 and the lower portion 18. The inflatable bladder 12 extendsinternally of the protector 10 throughout the central portion 15, theupper portion 17 and the lower portion 18.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the rear side of the torsoprotector 10 is provided with securing means to enable the protector 10to be worn by a user during said spar training. The securing means takesthe form of a pair of shoulder straps 21, an upper back strap 22, and alower back strap 23, each securely affixed to the protector at an anchorpoint 24. The shoulder straps 21 are designed to pass over a user'sshoulders thereby to retain the protector 10 in place on the user'storso. The upper and lower back straps 22, 23 are designed to passaround a user's back and serve to retain the protector 10 in place onthe user's torso, and prevent movement of the protector 10 on the torso.

Each strap 21, 22, 23 is provided with a male buckle member 25constituting one half of a plastic quick release buckle mechanism offamiliar construction, each said male buckle member 25 being adapted toengage with a complementary female buckle member 26 affixed to theprotector at an anchor point 24. As can be seen, the female bucklemembers 26 associated with the shoulder straps 21 may share an anchorpoint 24 with the upper back strap 22, and the female buckle member 26associated therewith. The quick release buckle mechanisms 25, 26 alsoenable adjustment of the length of each strap 21, 22, 23 to fit users ofdiffering sizes and to tighten or loosen the straps 21, 22, 23 duringuse, as required.

As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the protector 10 is provided withinflation valves 27 in communication with the internal inflatablebladder 12 and adapted to enable inflation and deflation thereof. In theexample shown, two inflation valves 27 are provided, each adapted toinflate one side of the protector 10, with an internal partition (notshown) being provided in the inflatable bladder 12. The inflation valves27 are provided on an upwardly facing surface of the protector 10 ratherthan on the strike surface 11, so as to prevent damage to the inflationvalves 27 during use.

Referring now to FIG. 3, this shows the torso protector 10 being worn bya user 30, ready to participate in martial arts spar training. Theprotector 10 is wrapped around the torso of the user 30, facilitated bythe segmented construction of the protector 10, as defined by thestrengthening ribs 13 and chambers 14 of the inflatable bladder 12. Thegenerally cylindrical central portion 15 thus wraps around the user'sabdomen and sides, with the upper portion 17 extending to cover theuser's chest region, and the lower portion 18 extending to cover theuser's groin region. The protector is held in place by use of the backstraps 22, 23 (not visible in FIG. 3) and the shoulder straps 21.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a second major embodimentof protective apparel for use in martial arts or fitness trainingaccording to the present invention, in the form of a thigh protector 40.The thigh protector 40 is constructed, and intended for operation in,essentially the same manner as that discussed above with reference tothe torso protector 10, and like reference numerals are thus utilised todenote like components. The thigh protector 40 differs from the torsoprotector 10 in that it does not comprise a central portion 15, upperportion 17 and lower portion 18. Instead, the thigh protector 40 isformed with a generally cylindrical profile, but with a slanting upperface 41 to provide a comfortable fit for the user. As will beappreciated, the thigh protector 40 may be constructed with the upperface 41 slanted in either a left or right orientation, so as to be wornon either the user's left or right thigh. The example shown in FIGS. 4and 5 is intended to be worn on a user's right thigh. As can be seen inFIG. 5, the thigh protector is provided with a single thigh strap 42adapted to be secured around the user's inner thigh.

Referring now to FIG. 6, this shows the thigh protector 40 being worn bya user 30, ready for participation in martial arts spar training. Thethigh protector 40 wraps around the user's thigh in the same manner asdescribed above with reference to the torso protector 10, facilitated bythe segmented construction of the protector 40. The thigh protector 40is held in place on the user's thigh by the thigh strap 42 (not visiblein FIG. 6) passing around the user's inner thigh, so that the strikesurface 11 remains oriented outwards. As can be seen, the right-orientedslant of the upper face 41 complements the shape of the user's body,leaving the hip region unencumbered.

Referring now to FIG. 7, this shows the user 30 wearing both the torsoprotector 10 according to the first major embodiment of the presentinvention, and the thigh protector 40 according to the second majorembodiment of the present invention, ready for participation in martialarts spar training. The strike surface 11 thus extends over a largerarea of the user's body, and thus the area of the user's body which isprotected is also increased. As can be seen, the slanting upper face 41now also complements the shape of the torso protector 10, having regardto the lower portion 18 thereof. It will be appreciated that aleft-oriented thigh protector 40 may also be provided in order toprovide a still larger strike surface 11, and thus a still largerprotected area.

It will also be appreciated that the thigh protector 40 according to thesecond major embodiment of the present invention may easily be furtheradapted to form a (left or right oriented) shin protector, upper armprotector or forearm protector. In this way, each area of the body canbe protected by protective apparel according to the present invention,either individually or in combination.

1. Protective apparel for use in martial arts training, comprising: astrike surface carried on an inflatable bladder; and securing means toenable the apparel to be worn by a user during said training; wherein,during use, the inflatable bladder is inflated to a sufficient pressureto withstand strikes from a training partner.
 2. The protective apparelas claimed in claim 1, wherein the strike surface is three-dimensional.3. The protective apparel as claimed in claim 2, wherein the strikesurface has a generally cylindrical profile.
 4. The protective apparelas claimed in claim 1, wherein said inflatable bladder is shaped so ason inflation to adopt a generally cylindrical profile.
 5. The protectiveapparel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inflatable bladder comprisesat least one strengthening rib, located internally of the bladder. 6.The protective apparel as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least onestrengthening rib divides the inflatable bladder into a plurality ofchambers, thereby imparting a segmented structure to the apparel.
 7. Theprotective apparel as claimed in claim 6, wherein each said chamber isin fluid communication with its adjacent chamber.
 8. The protectiveapparel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder isprovided with an inflation valve.
 9. The protective apparel as claimedin claim 8, wherein the inflation valve is located on a surface otherthan the strike surface.
 10. The protective apparel as claimed in claim8 9, wherein the inflation valve is a quick release valve.
 11. Theprotective apparel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing means toenable said protective apparel to be worn by a user comprises at leastone strap.
 12. The protective apparel as claimed in claim 11, whereinsaid at least one strap is provided with complementary quick releasebuckle fasteners.
 13. The protective apparel as claimed in claim 11,wherein the apparel is adapted to be worn on a user's torso, andcomprises: a generally cylindrical central portion adapted to wraparound said user's torso such that the strike surface extends over thefront thereof; an upper portion adapted to protect said user's chestregion; and a lower portion adapted to protect said user's groin region;and wherein each of said upper and lower portions extends from thegenerally cylindrical central portion.
 14. The protective apparel asclaimed in claim 13, wherein the strike surface extends over saidgenerally cylindrical central portion and said upper and lower portions.15. The protective apparel as claimed in claim 14, wherein theinflatable bladder extends throughout said generally cylindrical centralportion and said upper and lower portions.
 16. The protective apparel asclaimed in claims 13, wherein the securing means comprises a pair ofparallel straps adapted to be secured across a user's back region. 17.The protective apparel as claimed in claims 13, wherein the securingmeans comprises a pair of parallel straps adapted to be secured over auser's shoulder region.
 18. The protective apparel as claimed in claim11, wherein the apparel is adapted to be worn on a user's limb, and isadapted to wrap around said user's limb such that the strike surfaceextends outwardly thereof.
 19. The protective apparel as claimed inclaim 18, wherein the securing means comprises at least one strapadapted to be secured over an inner face of said limb.
 20. A protectiveapparel kit comprising the protective apparel as claimed in claim 13,and at least one article of protective apparel adapted to be worn on auser's limb, and adapted to wrap around said user's limb such that thestrike surface extends outwardly thereof.